In 1972, Rafferty and his old school friend Joe Egan formed the outfit Stealers Wheel, a group that proved beset by legal wranglings yet brimming with talent. They had a huge hit with "Stuck in the Middle With You", a pop/rock track deliberately aping the style of Bob Dylan that has had massive airplay for decades. That song also was immortalized in the infamous torture scene in the motion picture 'Reservoir Dogs', the film's soundtrack introducing the group to a new generation. Despite their knack for The Beatles-like melodic rock, Stealers Wheel disbanded in 1975.
Rafferty spent quite a while in a sort of forced legal limbo before he could record again, spending his time wisely as he developed his sound. In 1978, Rafferty cut a solo album, 'City to City', which would catapult him right into international stardom. Earning praise from many music critics, the release included the song with which he remains most associated: "Baker Street". Known for its gripping lyrics and haunting saxophone solo by Raphael Ravenscroft, the single reached #3 in the U.K. and #2 in the U.S. The album itself also received a boost as another single, "Right Down the Line", picked up major attention.
"Baker Street" has remained a mainstay of radio airplay for decades and popped up several times in popular culture, an example being its placement in the 'Good Will Hunting' soundtrack. Notable cover versions include a release by Undercover that also made the Top 3 in the U.K .singles chart in 1992. American rockers Foo Fighters also made their own version, swapping the saxophone solo for a guitar solo.
His next album, Night Owl, also did well, and the title track was a UK No. 5 hit in 1979. The follow-up single "Get It Right Next Time", made the UK Top 40.
Subsequent albums, such as Snakes and Ladders (1980), Sleepwalking (1982), and North and South (1988) all fared less well, due partly to Rafferty's general reluctance to perform live. "Don't Give Up On Me", from his 1992 collection On A Wing and a Prayer, is a much-featured oldie on BBC Radio 2. In 2021, a posthumous album, Rest In Blue, was released to positive reception.
DISCOGRAPHY
With the Humblebums
First Collection of Merry Melodies (1969)
The New Humblebums (1969)
Open Up The Door (1970)
With Stealers Wheel
Stealers Wheel (1973)
Ferguslie Park (1974)
Right Or Wrong (1975)
Solo
Can I Have My Money Back? (1971)
City To City (1978)
Night Owl (1979)
Snakes And Ladders (1980)
Sleepwalking (1981)
North And South (1988)
On A Wing And A Prayer (1992)
Over My Head (1994)
Another World (2000)
Rest In Blue (2021)
Baker Street
Gerry Rafferty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well, another crazy day
You'll drink the night away
And forget about everything
This city desert makes you feel so cold
It's got so many people, but it's got no soul
To find out you were wrong
When you thought it held everything
You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're trying, you're trying now
Another year and then you'd be happy
Just one more year and then you'd be happy
But you're crying, you're crying now
Way down the street there's a light in his place
He opens the door, he's got that look on his face
And he asks you where you've been
You tell him who you've seen
And you talk about anything
He's got this dream about buying some land
He's gonna give up the booze and the one-night stands
And then he'll settle down
In some quiet little town
And forget about everything
But you know he'll always keep moving
You know he's never gonna stop moving
'Cause he's rolling, he's the rolling stone
And when you wake up, it's a new morning
The sun is shining, it's a new morning
And you're going, you're going home
The song "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty is a commentary on the struggles of urban life. The first verse paints a picture of someone who is exhausted by the city they live in. They are so tired that they drink themselves to sleep every night just to forget everything. The second verse talks about a person who used to believe that the city had everything they needed to be happy. They thought that all they needed was just one more year, but now they're crying because they realize they were wrong.
The chorus is about a man who dreams of buying some land and settling down in a quiet town, but deep down he knows he'll never be able to do that. He's a rolling stone who can never stay in one place for too long. The end of the song is hopeful, with the mention of a new morning and the sun shining. It's a reminder that even though life can be tough, there are always new beginnings.
Overall, "Baker Street" is a poignant look at the struggles of modern life and the search for happiness. It's a song that many people can relate to, especially those who feel lost or unfulfilled in their current circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Winding your way down on Baker Street
Slowly making your way through the twists and turns of Baker Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Feeling dizzy and tired
Well, another crazy day
Another hectic, chaotic day
You'll drink the night away
You'll spend the night drinking alcohol
And forget about everything
Trying to block out your problems and worries
This city desert makes you feel so cold
This deserted city makes you feel lonely and cold
It's got so many people, but it's got no soul
The city may be full of people, but it lacks character and depth
And it's taken you so long
It's taken you a long time
To find out you were wrong
To realize that you were mistaken
When you thought it held everything
When you believed that the city had it all
You used to think that it was so easy
You once believed that life was simpler
You used to say that it was so easy
You once stated that life was simple
But you're trying, you're trying now
You're currently struggling and putting in effort
Another year and then you'd be happy
You believed that if you just waited one more year, you'd be happy
Just one more year and then you'd be happy
You believed that if you just waited one more year, you'd be happy
But you're crying, you're crying now
You're currently upset and crying
Way down the street there's a light in his place
There's a light on in his building down the street
He opens the door, he's got that look on his face
He opens the door with a specific expression on his face
And he asks you where you've been
He inquires about where you've been
You tell him who you've seen
You recount to him the people you've interacted with
And you talk about anything
You chat about anything and everything
He's got this dream about buying some land
He has a vision of acquiring some property
He's gonna give up the booze and the one-night stands
He's planning to stop drinking and having casual sexual encounters
And then he'll settle down
He'll relax and establish roots
In some quiet little town
He'll live in a peaceful and small locality
And forget about everything
He'll put his troubles and concerns out of his mind
But you know he'll always keep moving
You know he won't stay in one location for long
You know he's never gonna stop moving
You know that he'll always be on the move
'Cause he's rolling, he's the rolling stone
He's a wanderer at heart, always moving like a rolling stone
And when you wake up, it's a new morning
When you awaken, it's a brand-new day
The sun is shining, it's a new morning
The sun is shining, and it's a new day
And you're going, you're going home
You're leaving and journeying back home
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gerald Rafferty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RSpracticalshooting
Single version hits so much harder than the album version.
@ooo8188
I know, it hit so hard that it ruined the song
@railwaymaster1163
@@ooo8188 Whatever
@TheTexanDuolingo
it actually makes the music sound more 'intense' and more entertaining to listen to, since they sped up the single version!
@MSDOS128
protonightcore
@joeykardos7602
Great song from 1978!
@VeeVeeVii
That saxophone solo just 👌👌👌👌👌
@BrodyMcCain
This song makes the whole world better.
@RonaldCharlesEpstein
One of the memorable songs of the 1970s.
@thursoberwick1948
And it never got to Number One. Number two in the UK charts, easily one of the best songs of its time.